Martin Schorn and Michael Koecher of skm2 have shared with us their runner up proposal for the Design Against the Elements 2010 international competition. Additional images and a brief abstract from the designers after the jump.
Based on interviews and researches at the site, one of the main targets of the project is to maximize personal identification of each future inhabitant with new sustainable urban facilities. Guided by workshops every participant is involved in the design- and building process. The more the inhabitant actively is involved into the process the more he looks after his sustaining environment.
With the help of professionals the future inhabitant is requested to build his own unit, choosing his favored: place, unit-size, wall-construction materials and interior design. The disaster resistant modular “racking system” assembled by building contractors is designed with help of a Digital Dynamic Analysis Software and completely made of indigenous, recyclable and biodegradable materials, like bamboo, coco-wood and recycled steel.
Allowing maximal functional flexibility and adaptability to various sites – even in diverse climate regions – the modular system is easily adaptable to local properties or resources. Units are interweaving with each other and with a range of community facilities – market, daycare-center, multipurpose hall, public laundries, and micro-enterprises – via elevated bridges.
This walkway supports the social network and can even be used in disaster affected times, providing access to food and drinking water and moreover to offer safe exit possibilities. Vertical urban gardens and water tanks are part of every single housing unit and help together with well distributed micro-enterprises to create an autocracy living environment.
